Fiery FAAC Funding Fight: Alia and PDP Ignite Bitter War of Words Over N30bn Monthly Allocation Ahead of 2027

The political landscape in Benue State is currently marked by a heated dispute between the administration of Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The controversy stems from a recent comment by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who stated that Benue State is now receiving N30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). This declaration has ignited a "war of words," with both sides presenting their arguments and demanding accountability.

In response to Wike's statement, Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, issued a statement defending Governor Alia's administration. Iorpev asserted that Governor Alia has meticulously justified the expenditure of "every Kobo" of the state's allocations. He emphasized the critical need to consider the economic realities, particularly the impact of exchange-rate adjustments and inflation on the purchasing power of the naira, when scrutinizing the state’s monthly revenue under the current administration.

Iorpev further criticized the preceding PDP-led administration, headed by former Governor Samuel Ortom, which governed Benue for eight years before Alia took office. He claimed that the previous government left behind a legacy of substantial debts, unresolved unpaid salaries and pensions, numerous abandoned projects, and a general deterioration of infrastructure across the state. The Commissioner explained that the Alia administration is diligently deploying the state's resources to address these inherited liabilities while simultaneously funding new development projects across all 23 local government areas.

Highlighting the economic nuances, Iorpev dismissed the PDP critics' focus on "N30 billion monthly FAAC" as intentionally ignoring fundamental macroeconomic principles such as exchange rates and inflation dynamics. He argued that comparing today's nominal naira figures to allocations from four or eight years ago is inherently misleading. According to Iorpev, "Due to exchange rate adjustments and foreign exchange reforms, the purchasing power of today’s naira allocation is comparable to, if not lower in real value than what the previous administration received." He further elaborated that the previous administration "enjoyed stronger purchasing power relative to global and local market rates, yet managed to leave empty coffers, abandoned projects, and massive debt." In stark contrast, Iorpev maintained that Governor Alia's administration is "delivering vastly superior results in a high-cost economic environment," suggesting that the previous administration had greater financial leverage but failed to utilize it effectively.

The Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, vehemently rejected these explanations and accusations. Through a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, the PDP urged Governor Alia's government to cease making excuses, demanding that it immediately publish Benue's FAAC records and provide a transparent account for every kobo received. The PDP expressed its dismay that government officials had resorted to "political accusations, historical comparisons and propaganda against the immediate past administration" instead of providing verifiable answers regarding the reported N30 billion monthly FAAC receipts.

The PDP underscored that the citizens of Benue are not seeking "political drama" but are demanding concrete accountability. They want clear information on how much money their state receives, how it is spent, what specific projects it funds, what liabilities remain outstanding, and what tangible projects have been delivered using public funds. The opposition party firmly stated that "These are legitimate questions that no responsible government should evade." They admonished Governor Alia's administration, asserting that it "cannot continually invoke the record of its predecessor whenever questions are raised about its own stewardship," concluding that "The past does not provide a hiding place for the present and attacking the opposition is no substitute for opening the books."